VISA Information for Countries
- Thread starter wantmygcnow
- Start date
@cafeconleche El Cafe, nice to see you again after more than a decade. You provide good info.They give you a visa waiver if you have a Schengen visa because they figure the Schengen country checked you out and issued you the visa, so you're kosher. Or halal. Or whatever. Pick your food type of choice
This makes huge sense, and I don't understand why everyone doesn't do it. Let the US and Europe do the work, and you welcome the traveler.
controlsauce
Member
If you have a U.S. Green Card and a U.S.-issued Refugee Travel Document, you do not need a visa to travel to Italy for up to 90 days. The Italian Embassy in Washington is correct. Italy generally follows Schengen guidelines, which allow visa-free entry for RTD holders who are also U.S. permanent residents. Just ensure your RTD is valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure from Italy.
Interesting! Have you traveled to Italy without a visa with RTD and GC before? Cause the Italian Embassy in LA got me a visa to go there in 2022
If you are from a country the citizens of which do not need a schengen visa to enter Europe, then you do not need a visa to visit for Italy. My country of origin is not on that visa exempt list, which is why the embassy of Italy told me to get a visa although I have a GC and RTF. I already applied and got my visa though.
Hello friends! Finally I got the American RTD and Green Card. My passport expired a few years ago. Planning a trip now to meet parents in a 3rd country. Few questions if someone could help:
1) Anyone traveled to any post Soviet Union countries? (e.g. Uzbekistan, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan…). It’s a low chance, but I would particularly interested hearing about Uzbekistan experience from anyone. I was born in another post Soviet Union country if it matters…
2) Is it helpful to take the original expired passport from my country to show it if an agent doesn’t have a clue what’s RTD?
3) Is anyone here who was denied entrance to any country with American RTD? I only heard about Turkey but I don’t know what was the nationality of a person nor any other details
4) ChatGPT was saying that the RTD should be valid at least for the next 6 months once entering some countries… Is that true? Hard to believe that actually
1) Anyone traveled to any post Soviet Union countries? (e.g. Uzbekistan, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan…). It’s a low chance, but I would particularly interested hearing about Uzbekistan experience from anyone. I was born in another post Soviet Union country if it matters…
2) Is it helpful to take the original expired passport from my country to show it if an agent doesn’t have a clue what’s RTD?
3) Is anyone here who was denied entrance to any country with American RTD? I only heard about Turkey but I don’t know what was the nationality of a person nor any other details
4) ChatGPT was saying that the RTD should be valid at least for the next 6 months once entering some countries… Is that true? Hard to believe that actually
tiredofwaiting1
Active Member
I think European countries require it to be valid for 3 months at the end of your trip. Asian countries usually do not accept it for example UAE but do not know exactly about Uzbekistan. You can ask their embassy.
I know a guy who travelled to Uzbekistan using RTD. He had to get a visa at Uzbekistan consulate but his RTD was just received meaning validity period was long enough.
Congratulations!
Is there an embassy of Uzbekistan in your city? Usually, embassies have the most accurate info. if you can find their website.
About Turkey, it is actually true that your RTD must have a 6-month validity at the time of applying for a visa. I checked it myself on the embassy webpage.
RandyNYC
New Member
Hello, I’m curious to know if I can travel to some European countries, such as Switzerland, Italy, Germany, and France, visa-free. I’ve done some research, but there are conflicting information on various websites. Some claim that I don’t need a visa, while others suggest otherwise. Could someone please clarify this for me? I’d greatly appreciate any guidance you can provide.
Johannita226
Active Member
RandyNYC
New Member
FYI. I don’t have my GC yet..
Hey, I just got back from Europe using only my RTD, not every country accept it visa free, actually just a few do, like germany, Netherlands, Belgium, In my case I entered through Germany visa free and then traveled within Europe by train or bus, it is not recommended traveling by plane to European countries that require a visa (like France, Italy or Switzerland) and also know that there can be passport control traveling by land too. Overall you can do it, but it can be tricky.
Thanks for sharing. How was your experience coming back to the US? Were you sent to secondary inspection? What questions were you asked?
Also when leaving Europe for the US, do European airline staff easily let you board with RTD or are they asking for US visa? What is their familiarity with RTDs?
I traveled with Delta, and they were pretty knowledgeable with the RTD, I was even able to check in online and scan the document on the app, coming back was trickier since I had to check in manually with an agent, Customs in Germany asked no questions at all, and CBP took me to secondary cause that’s where they keep the “Returning Asylees Seals”, all they asked was which country I visited and for how long, overall it was a good experience to be honest.
Ptania08
Member
Just came back from my euro summer trip. This is my 3rd trip so far this year on RTD with no GC. First trip was Thailand (evisa), 2nd trip was Belgium (visa) and this most recent trip was Spain-Portugal and France. I had a French visa. To leave is never an issue but coming back to the us not so easy. You have to explain yourself to the travel agents so many times . Once you get to the US it’s pretty smooth. My first time was the longest I guess because it was my first time using it; but now it’s like 5 mins. First 2 times were through Dulles airport this time was through JFK and he didn’t even asked me anything just stamped it
tiredofwaiting1
Active Member
A famous lawyer is recommending every non-citizen (even with GC and RTD) to not travel for the next 3.5 years? What do you guys think of this?
I personally think there are many fear mongering attorneys out there. There’s always a risk when traveling abroad but if you have no criminal history of any kind, then you should be fine.
Ptania08
Member
I think you should do what YOU are comfortable with. I personally have left the country 3times without GC since trump is president, but again I know the risk I’m taking and I’m okay with it. I’m simply not going to not travel because of what people are saying but again that is the risk I AM taking. If you feel doubtful/ fearful of the current administration then you should not travel. I feel like there’s a lot of speculations and we don’t know if the next president might me worst/better so we’ll never leave until we become citizens? That’s good food for thoughts
tiredofwaiting1
Active Member
Did you travel with RTD all these 3 times during the new administration? Any problems while reentering?